PLAYING TO THE WHISTLE

lan Heitman flies about to keep pace with a rush of two-year-old Flat action

- lan Heitman

The first of the 13 European Group 1 races for two-year-olds, the Phoenix Stakes at ☐ smallest field of all the Group the Curragh often attracts the 1 races held during the year, only three times since 2000 has there been 10 runners or more and for the second time in three years, there were only five runners.

Whistlejacket, who made all the running to win the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket on his previous start, was the 8/13 favourite to give his trainer Aidan O'Brien an 18th winner in the race. Babouche, winner of the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes on her previous start, was a 5/2 chance and the only danger to Whistlejacket in the market with the other three runners at 14/1 or 16/1.

Whistlejacket was pestered for the lead by one of the 16/1 shots Arizona Blaze, a useful performer who had won in Group 3 company in May and finished third in Group 2 company on his two previous starts. Babouche raced in touch with the two pacesetters with Shadow Army and Rudi's Apple held up.

Whistlejacket took a long time to shake of the attention of Arizona Blaze, only doing so with less than two furlongs to go. Babouche, who had travelled well for Colin Keane, was asked to improve at the two-furlong marker and she picked up in good style, taking the lead off Whistlejacket just over a furlong from the finish.

She stayed on well, holding Whistlejacket inside the last 100 yards to win by a length and a half to remain unbeaten. Arizona Blaze was a further length and three quarters away in third, with the other two well held.

Babouche provided her trainer Ger Lyons with a first Group 1 success since 2020, and she was the first filly to win the Phoenix Stakes since 2011. She is likely to have one more run in 2024, the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes on September 28, a race her trainer won in 2011, where is currently the 3/1 second favourite behind Albany Stakes winner Fairy Godmother who is the 5/2 favourite.